Edmonton man charged with child exploitation

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) has charged an Edmonton man with a variety of child exploitation offences after he allegedly posed as a professional photographer and took nude photos of an underage girl.

William Swanson, 36, was arrested following two separate investigations by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit, in partnership with EPS, RCMP, and the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre.

In addition to allegedly befriending and taking nude photos of a 16-year-old Edmonton girl, Swanson also allegedly shared child sexual exploitation images over the internet from a Fort McMurray work camp.

Officials said the girl, an aspiring model who met Swanson through an ad she placed on Kijii looking for modeling work, contacted police after she discovered child sexual exploitation images on a laptop provided by Swanson.

ALERT said Swanson allegedly presented himself as professional photographer and had the victim sign a series of fake contractual agreements.

Police seized a number of electronic devices and modeling contracts as a result of a May 26 search and seizure of the Edmonton man’s home and vehicle.

Swanson faces a number of charges including four counts of making child pornography and making sexually explicit material available to a child.

ALERT has released Swanson’s photo and is asking other possible victims to come forward.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact their local police detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Swanson is scheduled to appear in court on June 17.